Max Verstappen delivers a surprise statement about his long-term interest in joining Ferrari, discussing the issue with F1 news outlets.
A wise man once popularised the phrase, “Everyone is a Ferrari fan.” There seems a lot of truth in this saying, with three-time F1 Champion Max Verstappen admitting his admiration for the Italian outfit.
The Dutchman has a blockbuster contract with Red Bull, keeping him in the team until at least 2028. Despite this, there has been plenty of speculation regarding his future across F1 news.
Quite frequently, Verstappen makes headlines for his honest responses to questions about retirement. Given he is only 26 years old, there is no reason why he will stop racing in Formula 1 anytime soon.
As mentioned previously, his existing contract will keep him in F1 for several seasons. This alone should make clear where his priorities lie. However, this doesn’t stop conversations about his long-term commitment to the sport.
Generally speaking, the discussion surrounding Verstappen retiring prematurely is unfounded. Whilst the Red Bull driver has interests beyond racing, it is far too soon for serious suggestions he might hang up his gloves.
Max Verstappen on possible Ferrari move
Moreover, the Dutchman has spoken about potentially driving for Ferrari. Although he is committed to Red Bull, recent comments suggest that driving for the Maranello outfit is one of his ambitions:
“It has an incredible history in this sport and is a great opponent to compete against,” sportface.it quotes him as saying to Sportweek.
“Future at Ferrari? When my current contract expires I will be 31 years old and I think I can still do well.
“I would like to keep, for my personal collection, the three single-seaters with which I was world champion, but also Michael Schumacher’s F2004.
“It’s a fantastic car, however I don’t know where he buys it. Is this an appeal to John Elkann?
“Absolutely yes, I hope he reads the interview and calls me.”
Everyone is a Ferrari fan
Similar comments are consistent across the grid, especially from drivers who have World Championships. Lewis Hamilton, for example, has spoken about his admiration for Ferrari and their achievements in F1. For several reasons, however, a move did not materialise.
There were even reports of talks between Hamilton and Ferrari earlier this season. The British driver’s relationship with team principal Fred Vasseur further fuelled speculation.
Others, such as Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, tried to secure a World title for the Italian outfit. For various factors, neither succeeded in returning the crown to Maranello.
With this in mind, Max Verstappen could create massive shockwaves if he ever moves to Ferrari. And although we shouldn’t get carried away with hypotheticals, his all-time status would undoubtedly be bolstered if he can win in the Scarlett red.
However, even the possibility of this happening is well into the future. This is especially true given that – at least for now – Charles Leclerc is already established as the ‘predestinato’ (chosen one) at Maranello.
Regardless, seeing how the F1 driver market evolves will be intriguing. Verstappen is unlikely to make a dramatic move and shock F1 news headlines anytime soon, but his affinity for Ferrari is worth noting.
